Hyundai Motor Chosen for Third Consecutive Year for European Commission Backed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstrations

2014.05.02 18:30:00No. 2938

Hyundai Motor Chosen for Third Consecutive Year for European Commission Backed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstrations

World’s first mass produced Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell continues key role in 2014

Hydrogen-powered ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles will be driven by European officials

May 2, 2014 - Hyundai Motor’s ix35 Fuel Cell has been selected for the third consecutive year by the European Commission-backed Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) to demonstrate the real-world benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Two examples of the ix35 Fuel Cell, the world’s first mass production fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), will be driven during 2014 by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), European Commissioners, EU officials and other policymakers in Brussels.

Hyundai Motor has leased a hydrogen-powered fuel cell car to the FCH JU since October 2011. Over the course of the last two years, the ix35 Fuel Cell has been presented to EU decision-makers, stakeholders and the general public at a number of demonstration drives and public events across Europe.

Byung Kwon Rhim, President of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented: “The fact that the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell has been chosen for a third consecutive year underlines the vehicle’s pioneering approach to clean mobility solutions. Hyundai Motor and our colleagues at the FCH-JU will continue to work together to promote the benefits and advantages of hydrogen and fuel cell technology.”

“The visibility of the fuel cell and hydrogen technology in a market-ready product, together with the ability to experience, hands-on, driving the fuel cell car, are of crucial importance to make key stakeholders understand that fuel cells and hydrogen are technologies for today”, said Bert De Colvenaer, Executive Director of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking

Examples of the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell are already being leased by public and private fleets, primarily in Europe, where the European Union has established a hydrogen road map and initiated construction of hydrogen fuelling stations. Public authorities in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and the UK have already taken deliveries of ix35 Fuel Cell cars.

In April 2014, Hyundai Motor announced its plan to deliver 75 units of ix35 Fuel Cell as part of the largest ever pan-European fuel-cell passenger car project. The Hydrogen for Innovative Vehicles (HyFIVE) project, funded by FCH JU, will see deliveries made in Bolzano (Italy), Copenhagen (Denmark), Innsbruck (Austria), London (UK), Munich and Stuttgart (Germany). As part of the project, the existing pan-European refuelling infrastructure will be expanded significantly, providing greater choice and convenience to early adopters of FCEV technology.

The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell represents the culmination of a fuel cell development programme that began in 1998, and continues at the company’s dedicated fuel cell research centre at its Eco Technology Research Institute in Korea. In January 2013 the company became the world’s first automaker to begin mass production of zero-emission, hydrogen-powered vehicles, underlining its position as a world-leader in the development of fuel cell technology.

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About Hyundai Motor
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond. The company, which leads the Hyundai Motor Group, an innovative business structure capable of circulating resources from molten iron to finished cars, offers top-quality best-sellers such as Elantra, Sonata and Genesis. Hyundai Motor has seven manufacturing bases and seven design & technical centers outside of South Korea and in 2013, sold 4.73 million vehicles globally. With almost 100,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with localized models and strives to strengthen its leadership in clean technology, starting with the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered vehicle, ix35 Fuel Cell.

More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:
<http://worldwide.hyundai.com> or <http://www.hyundaiglobalnews.com>

About Hyundai Motor Europe
In 2013, Hyundai Motor Europe achieved registrations of 422.930 units, taking a new-car market share of 3,4%. Almost 95% of the vehicles Hyundai sells in the region are designed, engineered and tested in Europe to meet the needs of European customers. And 90% are built at its two local factories in the Czech Republic and Turkey, which have a combined annual capacity of 500.000 units. Hyundai sells cars in 30 European countries across 2.500 outlets.

Hyundai offers its unique, Europe only, Five Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty package with all new cars sold in the region, providing customers with a five year warranty with no mileage limit, five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.

About the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU)
The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is a unique public private partnership supporting research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe. Its aim is to accelerate the market introduction of these technologies, realising their potential as an instrument in achieving a carbon-lean energy system.

Fuel cells, as an efficient conversion technology, and hydrogen, as a clean energy carrier, have a great potential to help cut carbon dioxide emissions, reduce dependence on hydrocarbons and contribute to economic growth. The objective of the FCH JU is to bring these benefits to Europeans through a concentrated effort from all sectors.

The three members of the FCH JU are the European Union represented by the European Commission, fuel cell and hydrogen industries represented by the NEW Industry Grouping and the research community represented by the Research Grouping N.ERGHY.